Parents whose children attend the St Joseph Girls’ RC School says they are fed up of the poor conditions which have been affecting the Standards Four and Five classes.
One member of the Parent Teacher Association (PTA) said the situation was distressing, adding that there was a serious electrical problem which needed urgent attention.
The problem, she said, had resulted in non-functioning air-conditioning units.
“Standards Four and Five are being adversely affected. There is no ventilation and the children are complaining about having constant headaches,” she said.
President of the PTA Valerie Mendoza said teachers were also forced to walk with a change of clothing because of the extremely heated classrooms especially after lunch.
Mendoza urged the Ministry of Education to visit the school to have a first-hand look at the electrical problem.
“We need the wiring to be redone as soon as possible so that we could get the air-conditioner working,” Mendoza added.
The school, which is located on Abercromby Street, houses close to 600 pupils.
Contacted yesterday, head of the National Parent Teacher Association (NPTA), Zena Ramatali, said this school fell under the purview of the Roman Catholic Board and as such that entity was responsible for ensuring proper functioning of the facility.
She also called for greater accountability of funds so as to ensure schools were always in proper condition.
“The Catholic Board must say what it has been doing over the years to manage the school and ensure it is repaired since it is the owner of the school.
“As the owner it also has the duty to ensure the school is maintained over the years and not left to reach to that state of dilapidation,” Ramatali said.
She said it was not up to the Education Ministry alone to ensure the school was properly functioning.
On fundraising ventures she said: “It would be nice to know exactly where the money.....and a good few hundred thousand well...where this money is going.”
She said all Board schools, in general, needed to take responsibility for their schools since it was known that parents also financially contribute in running these institutions.
“It has become too glaring that after these schools are brought down to this level that the Ministry of Education will get all the blame.
“Clearly there needs to be some clarity regarding the role of the board and the role of the Education Ministry because clearly parents do not understand when the schools reach to this state what has caused it and who is responsible,” Ramatali said.
She said the PTA of the St Joseph Girls’ RC School recently came on board in 2014 and had not regularly attended meetings of the NPTA.
“The schools which have come to our meetings and sent us correspondence we would have represented them at our meetings we have been having with the Education Minister,” Ramatali said.